Some assortment of You-can-still-count-on-us bromides backed by a straight-faced honor guard toting American flags and banners exhorting the gallant knights in blue to Protect and Serve.

After all, the decision by erstwhile new-comer Safety Manager Ron Perea to resign amid the outcry over his decision to go light on Sparks, Murr and Sellers rather invites such spectacle.

(And that’s fine if he wants to skip all that. I have no reason to doubt that most Denver officers do anything other than serve us professionally and with distinction.)

But instead, Chief Gerry Whitman is blaming the media, defense attorneys, and – if I’m reading this correctly this dark a.m. – even suggesting that the independent process established for review of problem officer discipline is misguided.

Over the weekend, Whitman called former Denver Councilwoman Cathy Reynolds, chairwoman of the (Citizen Oversight) board, to tell her he was disappointed she was commenting without giving the Police Department a chance to present its findings. The seven members of the board are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council.

“I told her that it’s damaging to make those statements without reviewing the entire case,” Whitman said. “You have to have all the facts before you make a decision.”

(To be fair to Whitman, he’s been on vacation until recently. And he has told reporters that Denver Police officers are “under control,” despite what you might hear on talk radio programs.)

Denver Public Safety Manager Ron Perea, listens to community activist, Leroy Lemos, left, as he suggests that Perea resign from his position during a community meeting at NEWSED Community Development Corporation in Denver on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010. (Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post)

The Denver Police Department announced late tonight that it is re-opening an internal investigation into the beating of a man. The case prompted controversy after Safety Manager Ron Perea declined to fire two officers allegedly involved in the April 4, 2009, incident, which was captured on video.

“Additional witnesses and new information has been made available to investigators,” said a statement from the Denver Police Department, released shortly after 6 p.m. “As a result, the case has been re-opened for investigation.”

The announcement comes after prominent Denver Latinos today demanded the resignation of the city’s new safety manager, saying that his decision to keep on the force two police officers accused of covering up the beating a 23-year-old Latino shows he is unfit for the office.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.